"Thus it is said that one who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be endangered in a hundred engagements."
Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

War on Terrorism

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Afghan Transition Remains On Track, Officials Say

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C.
Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012 – Despite the
threat of insider attacks in Afghanistan, coalition forces continue to apply
pressure against insurgents in the country, Defense Department spokesmen said
today.

During a Pentagon press conference, Navy
Capt. John Kirby acknowledged multiple attacks by those in Afghan uniform in
Kandahar, which left nearly 10 International Security Assistance Force troops
wounded.

“[It was] clearly a tough day in
Kandahar, or [the] last couple of days. There's no question about that,” Kirby
said. “We still believe, and it still appears to be, what we consider a
green-on-blue, an insider threat attack … three attackers that were dressed in
Afghan national security force uniforms.”

Kirby said it was unclear if the
attackers wore Afghan police or army uniforms, but all three are still at large.
Two other attacks were also reported in the area.

“In one of them, we do believe that it
was at least facilitated -- potentially facilitated by an individual dressed in
an Afghan National Police uniform,” the Navy captain said. “But again, details
are very sketchy right now. ISAF is certainly looking into this.”

"It does appear that some
insurgents dressed in [Afghan security force] uniforms were able to breach the
perimeter of the operating base and were engaged very quickly by friendly
forces inside,” he said.

“There was a quick response force from a
nearby combat outpost that responded almost immediately, and of course, all the
casualties were evacuated to Kandahar Airfield,” Kirby said.

Although there were no U.S. forces
reported killed, Kirby said several were wounded in the course of killing at
least seven insurgents.

Kirby noted it’s too early to say with
certainty whether these attacks are connected beyond the fact that all occurred
in or around Kandahar.

“It's not uncommon that in the warm
months of the year, violence will increase,” he said. “Part of that is because
of the weather. Part of it is because ISAF and coalition forces are being more
aggressive.”

“They're out and about much more,
particularly in the south,” Kirby said. “So they have occasion to be in more
contact with or more of a problem for the enemy, and therefore, eliciting some
of these attacks.”

Even so, the withdrawal of 23,000 surge
forces remains on track and will be complete by the end of September, Kirby
said.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little
stated ISAF will continue to overcome threats from al-Qaida terrorists in
Afghanistan, even during the transition phase from ISAF to Afghan security
forces.

“As we transition to a new phase in our
relationship with Afghanistan, we believe that the Afghans themselves, working
with ISAF countries that could maintain a presence beyond 2014, are going to be
able to effectively suppress this threat,” Little said.

“Al-Qaida should take no comfort in 2014
as an end date for the Lisbon transition,” he said. “[This] will be a
continuing priority and focus of the United States and our allies, to include
Afghanistan. They will continue to see pressure brought to bear against them …
pressure [that] is happening now, and it will continue in the future.”